Czech Republic
| Česká republika Czech Republic | |||||
| |||||
| Motto: Pravda vítězí (Czech: "Truth prevails") | |||||
| Anthem: Kde domov můj | |||||
 Map showing the location of the Czech Republic (dark orange) within the EU (legend). | |||||
| Capital (and largest city) |
Prague 50°05′N 14°28′E | ||||
| Official languages | Czech | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Government | Republic | ||||
| - President | Václav Klaus | ||||
| - Prime Minister | Mirek Topolánek | ||||
| Formation | Ninth century | ||||
| - Independence from Austria-Hungary |
October 28, 1918 | ||||
| - Dissolution of Czechoslovakia | January 1, 1993 | ||||
| Accession to EU | May 1, 2004 | ||||
| Area | |||||
| - Total | 78,866 km² (117th) 30,450 sq mi | ||||
| - Water (%) | 2.0 | ||||
| Population | |||||
| - 2006 (30 Sept.) estimate | 10,280,968 | ||||
| - 2001 census | 10,230,060 | ||||
| - Density | 130/km² 337/sq mi | ||||
| GDP (PPP) | 2006 estimate | ||||
| - Total | $204.4 billion | ||||
| - Per capita | $20,000 | ||||
| GDP (nominal) | 2006 estimate | ||||
| - Total | $128,556 billion | ||||
| - Per capita | $12,504 | ||||
| HDI (2004) |  0.885 (high)
| ||||
| Currency | Czech koruna (CZK)
| ||||
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | ||||
| - Summer (DST) | CEST (UTC+2) | ||||
| Internet TLD | .cz 3 | ||||
| Calling code | +4201 | ||||
| 1 Shared code 42 with Slovakia until 1997 2 Rank based on 2006 IMF data 3 also .eu, shared with other European Union member states. | |||||
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe and a member state of the European Union. Though one of the youngest nations, its history goes back over a thousand years. Today the country has borders with Poland to the north, Germany to the northwest and west, Austria to the south, and Slovakia to the east. The capital and largest city is historic Prague, a major tourist attraction. The country is composed of two entire historic regions, Bohemia and Moravia, and parts of Silesia.
As Czechoslovakia, independence was gained after World War I, but the country came under communist leadership for more than forty years, until the breakup of the Soviet empire in 1989. But the new country split into the Czech Republic and Slovakia on January 1, 1993. It has also had to deal with making the transition from a socialist to a free market economy.
Geography
The Czech landscape is quite varied; Bohemia to the west consists of a basin, drained by the Labe and Vltava rivers, surrounded by mostly low mountains such as the Sudetes, where one finds the highest point in the country, the Sněžka, at 5,256 feet (1,602 m). Moravia, the eastern part, is also quite hilly and is drained predominantly by the Morava River, but it contains the source of the Odra River. Water from the landlocked Czech Republic flows to three different seas: the North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Black Sea.
The Czech Republic also possesses a 30,000-square-meter exclave in the middle of the Hamburg docks that was awarded to Czechoslovakia by the Treaty of Versailles to allow the landlocked country a place where goods transported downriver could be transferred to seagoing ships; this territory reverts to Germany in 2018.
Natural resources include coal, lead, zinc, iron ore, and uranium ore.
Climate
The Czech Republic has a temperate, continental climate with relatively hot summers and cold, cloudy winters, usually with snow. Most rain is during the summer. The temperature difference between summers and winters is relatively high due to the geographical position - no access to the sea.
Even within the Czech Republic, temperatures vary a lot depending on the altitude. In general, at higher altitudes the temperatures decrease and precipitation increases. Another important factor is the distribution of the mountains. At the highest peak (Snezka - 1602 m) the average temperature is only -0.4°C, whereas in the lowlands of South Moravia, the average temperature is as high as 10°C and this also applies for Prague, the capital, but this is due to urban factors.
From December to January, there is usually snow in the mountains and sometimes also in the major cities and lowlands, but it tends to melt quickly. During March, April and May, the temperatures usually increase rapidly, and especially during April the temperatures and weather tend to vary a lot during the day. Spring is also characterized by high water levels in the rivers due to the snow melting and there are often floods. Severe flooding caused widespread damage in 2002.
The warmest months of the year are June to August. On average, the summer temperatures are about 20°C higher than during winter. Especially in the last decade, temperatures above 30°C are not unusual. Summer is also characterized by rains and storms.
Autumn usually begins in September, which is still relatively warm, but much drier. During October, temperatures usually fall back under 15 or 10°C and deciduous trees begin to drop their leaves. By the end of November, temperatures usually range around the freezing point.
History
Archaeologists have found evidence of prehistoric human settlement in the area dating back to the Neolithic era. In the classical era, from the third century B.C.E. Celtic migrations, the Boii and later in the first century Germanic tribes of Marcomanni and Quadi settled there. During the Migration Period of around the fifth century, many Germanic tribes moved westward and southward out of Central Europe. In an equally significant migration, Slavic people from the Black Sea and Carpathian regions settled in the area (a movement that was also stimulated by the onslaught of peoples from Siberia and Eastern Europe: Huns, Avars, Bulgars, and Magyars). Following in the Germans' wake, they moved southward into Bohemia, Moravia, and some of present-day Austria. During the 7th century the Frankish merchant Samo, supporting the Slavs fighting their Avar rulers, became the ruler of the first known Slav state in Central Europe. The Moravian principality arose in the eighth century.
The Bohemian or Czech state emerged in the late ninth century when it was unified by the Přemyslids. The kingdom of Bohemia was a significant local power during the Middle Ages. It was part of the Holy Roman Empire during the entire existence of this confederation.
Religious conflicts such as the fifteenth-century Hussite Wars and the seventeenth-century Thirty Years' War had a devastating effect on the local population. From the sixteenth century, Bohemia came increasingly under Habsburg control as the Habsburgs became first the elected and then hereditary rulers of Bohemia. After the fall of the Holy Roman Empire, Bohemia became part of Austrian Empire and later of Austria-Hungary.
Following the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian empire after World War I, the independent republic of Czechoslovakia was created in 1918. This new country incorporated regions with majority German-, Hungarian-, Polish-, and Ruthenian-speaking populations. Although Czechoslovakia was a centralist state, it provided what was at the time rather extensive rights to its minorities. However, it did not grant its minorities any territorial political autonomy, which resulted in discontent and strong support among some of the minorities to break away from Czechoslovakia. Adolf Hitler used the opportunity and, supported by Konrad Henlein's Sudeten German Party, gained the almost wholly German-speaking Sudetenland through the Munich Agreement. Poland occupied areas with a Polish minority around Český Těšín, while Slovakia gained greater autonomy, with the state renamed "Czecho-Slovakia." Eventually Slovakia broke away further in March 1939, allied to Hitler´s coalition and the remaining Czech territory was occupied by Hitler, who installed the so-called Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia, which was proclaimed part of the Reich and where the Protectorate President and Prime Minister were subordinate to the Nazi Reichsprotektor ('imperial protector'). Approximately 390,000 citizens, including 83,000 Jews, were killed or executed, and hundreds of thousands of others were sent to prisons and concentration camps or forced labor. The Czechoslovak government-in-exile and its army fighting against the Germans were acknowledged by Allies (Czech troops fought in Great Britain, North Africa, the Middle East, and the Soviet Union). The Prague uprising ended the war.
In 1945-1946 almost the entire German minority of Czechoslovakia, about 2.7 million people, were expelled to Germany and Austria. During this time, thousands of Germans were held in prisons, detention camps, and used in forced labor. In the summer of 1945, there were several massacres. Only 250,000 Germans who had been active in the resistance against the Nazis or were necessary for the economy were allowed to stay, though many of them emigrated later.
Czechoslovakia uneasily tried to play the role of a "bridge" between the West and East. However, the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia rapidly increased in popularity, particularly because of a general disappointment with the West (due to the pre-war Munich Agreement) and a favorable popular attitude toward the Soviet Union (due to the Soviets' role in liberating Czechoslovakia from German rule). In the 1946 elections, the Communists received a plurality of the vote (38 percent) and became the largest party in the Czechoslovak parliament. They formed a coalition government with other parties of the National Front, and moved quickly to consolidate power. The decisive step took place in February 1948. During a series of events characterized by communists as a "revolution" and by anti-communists as a "takeover," the communist People's Militias secured control of key locations in Prague, and a new, all-communist government was formed.
For the next 41 years, Czechoslovakia was a Communist state within the eastern bloc. This period was marked by a variety of social developments. The Communist government nationalized the means of production and established a command economy. The economy grew rapidly during the 1950s and 1960s but slowed down in the 1970s and stagnated during the 1980s. Meanwhile, the political climate was highly repressive during the 1950s (including numerous show trials), but became more open and tolerant in the 1960s, culminating in the Prague Spring. This was forcibly ended on August 21, 1968, when an invasion by Warsaw Pact troops ended the efforts of the country's leaders to introduce political pluralism and create "socialism with a human face." From then until 1989, the political establishment returned to censorship of opposition, but without the highly repressive measures of the 1950s.
In November 1989, Czechoslovakia returned to a multi-party political system through a peaceful "Velvet Revolution." However, Slovak national aspirations strengthened until, on January 1, 1993, the country peacefully split into the independent Czech and Slovak republics. Both countries went through economic reforms and privatizations, with the intention of creating a market economy.
From 1991 the Czech Republic, then Czechoslovakia, has been a member of the Visegrad Group and from 1995 of the OECD. The Czech Republic joined NATO on March 12, 1999 and the European Union on May 1, 2004.
Politics
Czech Republic is a pluriform multi-party parliamentary representative democratic republic, where the Prime Minister is the head of government. The Parliament is bi-cameral, with the Chamber of Deputies (Poslanecká sněmovna) and the Senate.
Foreign relations
From 1948 until 1989, the foreign policy of Czechoslovakia followed that of the Soviet Union. Since independence, the Czechs have made integration into Western institutions their chief foreign policy objective.
The Czech Republic became a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, along with Poland and Hungary, on March 12, 1999. The Czech Republic became a full member of the European Union on May 1, 2004. Both events are milestones in the country's foreign policy and security orientation. The Czech Republic is scheduled to host the rotating EU presidency during the first half of 2009.
The Czech Republic is a member of the United Nations and participates in its specialized agencies. It is a member of the World Trade Organization. It maintains diplomatic relations with more than 85 countries, of which 80 have permanent representation in Prague.
Military
The Czech armed forces consists of land and air forces and specialized support units. In 2004 the Czech military completely phased out conscription and transformed into a fully professional military force. Military spending is around 1.8 percent of GDP (2006).
Administrative divisions
The Czech Republic is divided into 13 regions with their own assemblies and the capital city Prague. The older 73 districts; 3 statutory cities with the status of districts (Brno, Ostrava, and Plzeň); and the city-district-region of Prague were disbanded in an ill-executed administrative reform; however are still traditionally recognized and remain the seats of various branches of state administration.
Economy
One of the most stable and prosperous of the post-Communist states, the Czech Republic has been recovering from recession since mid-1999. Growth in 2000-2001 was led by exports to the European Union, especially Germany, and foreign investment, while domestic demand is reviving. The rate of corruption remains one of the highest among OECD countries.
An uncomfortably high fiscal deficit is becoming a problem.
Moves to complete banking, telecommunications, and energy privatization will add to foreign investment, while intensified restructuring among large enterprises and banks and improvements in the financial sector should strengthen output growth.
The country is scheduled to fully implement the Schengen Agreement and therefore abolish the border controls with all of its neighbors (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovakia) as of December 31, 2007.
The Czech government has expressed a desire to adopt the euro currency in 2010, but its introduction is only in the early planning stages and there are growing doubts whether budget deficit will not force postponement. More likely dates are 2011 or 2012.
Tourism
The Czech economy gets substantial income from tourism: in 2001, the total earnings from tourism made up 5.5 percent of GNP and 9.3 percent of overall export earnings. The industry employs more than 110,000 people - over 1 percent of the population.
The centers of tourist activity include the historic city of Prague, the most common point of entry for tourists visiting other parts of the country. Most other cities in the country attract significant numbers of tourists, but the spa towns such as Karlovy Vary and Mariánské Lázně are particularly popular holiday destinations. Other popular tourist sites are the many castles and chateaux, such as those at Karlštejn, Konopiště and Český Krumlov. Away from the towns, areas as Český Ráj, Šumava and the Krkonoše mountains attract visitors seeking outdoor pursuits.
Demographics
The vast majority of the inhabitants of the Czech Republic are Czechs (94.2 percent, of whom 3.7 percent claimed Moravian ethnicity and 0.1 percent Silesian in the 2001 census). The largest minorities are Slovaks (1.9 percent), Poles (0.5 percent), Germans (0.4 percent), and Roma people.
Religion
The Czech Republic, along with Estonia, has one of the least religious populations in the European Union. According to the 2001 census, 59 percent of the country is agnostic, atheist, non-believer or no-organized believer, 26.8 percent Roman Catholic, and 2.5 percent Protestant. According to a 2005 Eurobarometer poll, 30 percent of Czech respondents do not believe in a god, spirit, or life forces, although 50 percent believe in some sort of spirit or life force, and 19 percent believe in a god.
Culture
The country is famous for its love of puppetry and marionettes.
Under the communist regime, prominent writers, painters, and sculptors as well as museums, theaters, art galleries, and major orchestras were supported by the state. This generous support of theaters and orchestras meant that tickets to artistic events, from play readings to costly productions such as operas in Prague's National Theater, were affordable by all. Those in the arts who received state money had to conform to political and ideological dictates, or at least make certain that they did not offend the Soviet Union, those in power in their own country, and the Communist Party. Working under such strictures became unbearable for some of the most creative writers, such as Josef Škvorecký (1924–) and Milan Kundera (1929–), both of whom left the country to write and publish abroad.
Since the velvet revolution of 1989, artists have enjoyed freedom of expression and most support themselves. However, prestigious artistic institutions and ensembles such as the National Theater, the National Gallery, and the Czech Philharmonic continue to receive state support.
A world-famous fictional character is the "Good Soldier Šchweik" in the novel of that name by Jaroslav Hašek (1883–1923) published in 1923. The Good Soldier Šchweik portrays a complex character who, although discharged from military service for idiocy, is resourceful, expresses great compassion, and never stops making fun of the bureaucracy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Garrulous and ready to follow orders to the letter, Šchweik is the epitome of someone whose obtuseness helps him survive. The novel has been translated into many languages, filmed several times, adapted for theatrical presentations, and made into an opera.
Composers
Among Czech composers, four are heard in the concert halls and opera houses around the world. Bedřich Smetana (1824–1884) composed the six symphonic poems My Country and the folk opera The Bartered Bride. Antonín Dvořák (1841–1904), who composed works in many genres, is known especially for his sixteen Slavonic Dances and Symphony No. 9, From the New World; he was also the founder and the director for three years of the National Conservatory of Music in New York (1892–1895). Leoš Janáček (1854–1928) was a Moravian composer known for strongly rhythmic and dramatic operas, such as Jenufa, and Bohuslav Martinů (1890–1959) composed operas, symphonies, and chamber music.
Resources and Further reading
- Sioras, Efstathia. 1999. Czech Republic. Cultures of the World series. Tarrytown, NY: Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 0761408703
- Taus-Bolstad, Stacy. 2003. Czech Republic in Pictures. Visual Geography series. Minneapolis, MN: Lerner Publications. ISBN 0822546809
- [1] Culture of Czech Republic
- U.S. State Department Background Notes: Czech Republic
- [2] CIA World Factbook: Czech Republic
External links
Government
- Czech Republic - Official Website
- Czech Press Agency news
- Government website
- Portal of the Public Administration of Czech Republic
- Senate website
- Presidential website, click for a pop-up overview of English-language content
News
- Czech Happenings - Czech News (formerly Czech Happenings, the oldest English language news about the Czech republic
- Prague Daily Monitor - Czech news
- The Prague Post - the Czech Republic's English-language newspaper
- The Prague Tribune - the Czech Republic's English-language magazine
- http://radio.cz/en/ - Website of the English service of Radio Prague
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